Chapter 6 - Crossfire in the StudyThe acrid smell of smoke filled the air, burning the back of Nathan’s throat as he coughed violently against the floorboards. Beside him, Ethan shook off the shattered glass clinging to his blazer, his eyes darting frantically toward the heavy oak study door.
"Marcus!" Ethan yelled through the haze. "Report!"
A muffled groan echoed from near the hallway entrance. Marcus was lying half-conscious against the bookshelf, clutching a bleeding shoulder where a stray round had clipped him.
Agent Vance was already crouched behind an overturned leather armchair, her service pistol drawn and aimed squarely at the blown-out window frames. She didn't panic; her breathing was steady, the epitome of a seasoned federal operative.
"They're professional contractors," Vance whispered sharply, her eyes scanning the shifting smoke. "Ex-military or syndicate cleanup crew. They're here for the USB drive."
Nathan’s heart hammered against his ribs like a trapped bird. He glanced toward the center desk where the transparent evidence bag containing the encrypted drive lay exposed in the open.
"They want the master key," Nathan said, gritting his teeth as anger cut through his fear. They had invaded his home, humiliated him, and now they were treating his sanctuary like a war zone. "We can't let them have it."
"Stay down, Mr. Hawthorne," Vance warned, raising her weapon as a dark silhouette emerged through the thick white smoke near the shattered bay window.
BANG! BANG!
Two gunshots echoed through the study, the deafening noise rattling the glass display cases. Vance fired back with chilling precision, forcing the intruder to dive behind a heavy mahogany filing cabinet.
"Clear the east corridor!" a deep, electronically distorted voice shouted from the smoke. "Sweep the room! Find the drive and eliminate anyone who gets in the way!"
Ethan locked eyes with his brother. He didn't say a word, but the silent communication between them was instantaneous. Ethan nodded toward the private panic room panic-latch hidden behind the grandfather clock in the corner of the study.
"Agent Vance, provide cover!" Ethan yelled.
Vance didn't hesitate, unleashing a rapid three-round burst that shattered the upper moldings of the filing cabinet, keeping the intruder pinned down.
Ethan scrambled across the floor, grabbing Nathan by the collar and hauling him upright. "Move, Nate! Now!"
They sprinted toward the corner as another wave of gunfire peppered the wall inches behind Ethan’s heel. Ethan slammed his hand against the hidden biometric scanner beside the grandfather clock.
BEEP.
The heavy steel reinforced panel of the panic room slid open silently with a pneumatic hiss.
"Get inside!" Ethan shoved Nathan through the opening, diving in right behind him just as a masked gunman rounded the corner of the desk, raising an assault rifle toward them.
BANG!
Agent Vance’s bullet caught the intruder’s shoulder, spinning him around and forcing him to drop to one knee.
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"You're out of time, Vance!" Vance shouted into the smoke, firing until her magazine clicked empty.
With a mechanical groan, the heavy steel door of the panic room slammed shut, sealing Nathan and Ethan inside absolute darkness, illuminated only by the faint green glow of the emergency backup console.
